Description[]
Source: THE BIG BOOK OF BACKYARD COOKING - BETTY ROSBOTTOM
When a friend arrived at our house with this out-of-the-ordinary coleslaw, I loved the unique flavor but couldn’t figure out what made this version so distinctive. When I quizzed my pal, Betty Couvares, she explained that her mother, while making coleslaw one day, discovered too late that she was out of vinegar and tossed in chopped Spanish olives instead. This serendipitous creation has remained a favorite in my friend’s family for years. The olives (the taste I couldn’t detect) impart a salty, slightly tart note and keep the slaw from being cloyingly sweet. This slaw goes well with Ribs, Deep South Style and with Barbecued Salmon with a Mahogany Glaze.
Ingredients[]
- 1 medium (2-pound) green cabbage with attractive outer leaves
- 2 medium carrots, finely chopped
- 1¼ cups (about 7¼ ounces) whole Spanish olives stuffed with pimentos
- 3 tablespoons regular (not reduced-fat or nonfat) mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Directions[]
- Remove 4 to 5 of the attractive outer leaves from cabbage, rinse, and pat dry.
- Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator until you are ready to garnish slaw.
- Cut cabbage into ¼-inch-wide slices until you get to the core.
- Discard the core and chop the cabbage slices coarsely.
- Measure 8 cups chopped cabbage and put into a medium nonreactive bowl. (Save extra cabbage for another use.)
- Add carrots to cabbage.
- Chop olives and add to bowl.
- Stir in mayonnaise and mix well.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. (The slaw can be prepared up to 6 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
- To serve, line a shallow serving bowl with the reserved cabbage leaves.
- Stir chives into slaw and mound in bowl.
YIELD: SERVES 6